Texas and the Death Penalty

By

Jonathan Gurwitz

Updated Jan. 19, 2008 12:01 a.m. ET

SAN ANTONIO -- Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Baze v. Rees, a case that has effectively imposed a national moratorium on the death penalty since September. States are delaying executions until the high court rules.

To get a sense of what's at stake as the high court considers the future of capital punishment, I spoke with Texas Solicitor General R. Ted Cruz, the state's top lawyer. Mr. Cruz is a rising star among conservative jurists. He's a prot&eacute;g&eacute; of former U.S. Chief...